Daley hailed for courageous selections

NSW star James Tamou believes coach Laurie Daley should be praised for making wholesale changes to the Blues side as he attempts to win back the State of Origin crown.

Daley’s team for the Origin opener in Sydney on Wednesday has been widely slammed since it was announced last week.

The choice of Manly star Dylan Walker on the interchange bench has been singled out for especially vociferous criticism.

But Tamou said Daley, who finally returned Origin glory to NSW in 2014, should be applauded for his courageous selections.

“I am impressed that there was such a change because there was a call to make the team similar and not too far away from what it was,” Tamou told AAP.

“But coming off last year’s series loss I am impressed with the way Laurie has handled things and gone about his selections. I think people should give him more credit for that.

“I don’t think too many people would have picked Matty Moylan, I would have because he is such a talent.

“Adam Reynolds has been the in-form halfback for the last few years so it is good to see him get the nod.”

Walker, Moylan and Reynolds will make their Origin debuts at ANZ Stadium for the Blues alongside Josh Mansour, after Daley dumped seven players – from the side that played in the 52-6 hammering in last year’s decider at Suncorp Stadium.